Job Discussion Forums

[AndyCam25]

It's keeping me up at night. Been a problem for years in District 7 but the past few days it has spiked exponentially. It's been in the news just recently, anyone else experience this?

https://www.vietmaz.com/2016/08/hcm-city-sniffs-out-source-of-bad-odour/

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/36755/disturbing-smell-enshrouds-southern-ho-chi-minh-city

http://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/saigon-residents-suffer-from-stinking-landfill-site-3460064.html

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/36721/phu-my-hung-developer-seeks-citys-help-as-area-filled-with-awful-smell

[mark_in_saigon]

Just a bit off topic, but everyone knows that most everywhere in VN there are not true sewer systems. Instead, it just goes outside, is in those covered drainage systems (and backs up out of them from time to time, with flood tides or excess rain), and goes into the canals, then the rivers, then the oceans. I mean, we all know this, right? Anything being actually treated is pretty rare. So it seems quite natural for businesses to add their waste, like that Taiwanese company did with the recent fish kill. Anyway, point is, smell is a part of life here. If there is a big smell in a particular region, seems like that is just normal life.

Another point, again, just a bit off topic. If you look at the sewage outtake piping in houses here, they usually neglect to install the J trap systems which are built into houses in the west. The J obviously creates a water barrier so that the sewer gas does not have an unobstructed path to flow into your building. So when you are in a house or a place that seems to have this sewer gas coming up through the sinks or the floor drains, that is often the reason why. Sometimes this can be partially defeated with placing barriers over these drains (like plastic), but this is a very Mickey Mouse workaround. It is a big job to try to retrofit J traps into existing pluming systems, requiring tearing out concrete to get to the old plumbing. I would hope the newer houses are properly plumbed. Older buildings, not much you can do about this issue.

[nomad soul]

Durian?

[sigmoid]

Seems to be a bit of a mystery, but sewage could quite likely be the cause. An unfortunate consequence of living crowded amongst millions in heavily "developed" urban areas. Most large cities around the world, Beijing, Mexico City, Rio, Mumbai, Manila, etc., are fast becoming toxic nightmares, yet people still flock to them.

Anyway, I was reminded of this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_sewerage_system#History

"During the early 19th century the River Thames was an open sewer, with disastrous consequences for public health in London, including cholera epidemics. These were caused by enterotoxin-producing strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Although the contamination of the water supply was correctly diagnosed by Dr John Snow in 1849 as the method of communication, it was believed that miasma, or smell, was responsible right up to the outbreak of 1866."

Anyone considering coming to teach in HCMC should be aware of the traffic, flooding and air pollution.

Lots of traffic videos on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hcmc+traffic

[AndyCam25]

This is a more recent concern. I noticed a new stench since last week, it coincided with the holiday. Not sure if that had anything to do with it?

Recent headlines off of Google News (past few days since first post):

PM requires to spell out air pollution reason in HCMC

The Prime Minister has asked the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee to clarify reasons of air pollution in District 7, Binh Chanh and Nha Be and have solutions to solve the issue.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Hochiminhcity/2016/9/120484/

HCM City raises a stink over stench

The cause of the foul odour plaguing some of the southern districts in HCM City will be made public before next Tuesday, the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment has promised.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/163084/hcm-city-raises-a-stink-over-stench.html

Scientists to examine mysterious stench in southern Ho Chi Minh City

Experts and scientists have been asked to figure out the cause behind the unpleasant smell that has recently overwhelmed southern Ho Chi Minh City and to deal with the issue

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/36834/scientists-to-examine-mysterious-stench-in-southern-ho-chi-minh-city

I didn't find the pollution this consistently overwhelming before in District 7.

[AndyCam25]

Cause of odor in Saigon out next week

The HCMC government plans to call a press conference next week to publicize the cause of odor which has recently plagued the southern districts of Binh Chanh, Nha Be and 7, according to the city’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/163866/cause-of-odor-in-saigon-out-next-week.html

[AndyCam25]

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/37179/ho-chi-minh-city-finally-traces-source-of-foul-smell

[sigmoid]

It's good that they located but it doesn't seem like they will be able to eliminate the smell anytime soon.

Oh well, at least you can move, right?

[TRH]

Any expats living in D7, if they have not already done so should take a short trip out Vo Van Kiet to the A1 highway. On the A1 you will see the variety of industrial sites that provide a lot of the modern wealth of Vietnam. Most all of these factories are near the rivers and canals that pass through D7 and D8. D8 in fact follows the river on both shores. If these factories are not immediately adjacent to these waterways, they are certainly over the water table that feeds them.

It appears from the article referenced that the current problem is blamed on leakage from a landfill that sits right next to the river. The water table is never far away in southern Vietnam but I doubt that they could have chosen a worse location. In fact if you search Da Phuc, Binh Chan on Google maps there is an amazing aerial photo of the plant which clearly show how it sits right over the water. Now they are suggesting solid waste disposal be moved to Long An which of course is a huge rice growing area. How will that work out? You won't smell it in town but it will be in the water that grows the rice.